Birth Doula Services Contract

General Definition of a Doula

• A doula accompanies a woman in labor to help encourage a more satisfying birthing experience.
• A doula works for you, not your hospital, midwife, or doctor.  A doula provides physical, emotional, and educational support to the birthing mother and her partner, if applicable. 
• A doula does not perform any clinical tasks, such as blood pressure or fetal heart rate monitoring.

General Information About Birthsource's Doula

The Doula, Kailyn Browning:

• Is dual certified through Stillbirthday and DONA International.
• Approaches birth as a normal physiological, emotional, and spiritual process that is an important journey in a parent's life.
• Will support you during your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period, in whatever choices you make.
• Makes every attempt to stay current on the latest birthing research.
• Draws on her knowledge and experience to provide physical, emotional, and educational support, as well as communication with the medical staff to make sure we have the information we need to make informed decisions before and during labor.
• Can provide reassurance, make suggestions to help labor progress; through relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort.
• Does not offer medical advice, as such advice does not fall under the scope of doula services.

Obligations of the Doula

The doula, Kailyn Browning:

• Will be on call 24 hours a day, beginning two weeks before the Estimated Due Date (EDD) and ending with the birth of your child.  This means that Kailyn will carry her cellphone with her at all times and will not leave the general area without notifying you unless it is an emergency.
• Will meet with you at least once before the birth to discuss the birth.
• Will provide birth plan information and consultation.
• Encourages you to provide your care provider with a birth preference list, as well as notify your provider of your decision to hire a doula.
• In most cases, will attend one prenatal appointment with your doctor or midwife, if applicable and desired.
• May combine some visits if contracted less than 6 weeks before our estimated due date.
• Will answer any questions and make suggestions over the phone at any time during pregnancy.
• Will provide in-home support as needed during labor.  The information Kailyn may offer is for the purpose of the clients’ own decision making and is not to be construed as medical advice.
• Will utilize non-medical support techniques for labor and birth.
• Will provide reassurance and perspective to you, offer suggestions to help labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort. 
• Will support both you and the other parent/support person (if applicable) at all times.  She can help him/her feel confident and informed, give him/her ideas on how to best support you, and provide him/her with rest, reassurance, and reminders to keep him/herself nourished.  At no time will she “take over” or deliberately exclude the support person. 
• Will remain with the client(s) once active labor has begun and remain with you as desired until 1-2 hours after the birth.  Your doula may take short breaks to eat, rest, etc, as time allows – this will be discussed with you at the time and she will not leave you if it is inappropriate.
• Will usually contact you within 24 hours postpartum to check in, and will be available for a postpartum visit if you so desire.
• Will assist in providing information and emotional support by telephone/messaging on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care for one week postpartum. 
• Will visit you one time at home or in the hospital within approximately the first seven days after your birth.  Will answer questions or attempt to give you a referral to the appropriate professional that can meet your needs.
• Will keep all details relating to your pregnancy and birth personal and confidential.  This includes no online or social media posts related to your individual birth without your written consent.
• Is not expected to directly provide any form of transportation at any time during this contractual agreement.  This includes driving the client(s) in any vehicle.

Client Obligations

• Client will call Kailyn when we think labor has begun even if we are not sure.  This allows Kailyn to make arrangements as best as possible to attend our birth.
• Client will allow Kailyn a reasonable time to reach us.  She usually needs approximately 1 to 1½ hours (60-90 minutes) from the time we ask her to come, but will do her best to be there sooner if possible. 
• It is the client's responsibility to ensure that Kailyn is allowed to attend him/her at all times once at the hospital.

Financial Obligations

• A non-refundable deposit of $250 will be due at the time of the signing of this contract. The remaining balance of $350 will be due four weeks prior to your estimated due date. This will result in a total charge of $600 for all of the listed birth doula services in this contract.

• Unforseen circumstances may prevent Kailyn from attending the birth.  She is a midwifery student for a practice in Lancaster, OH that serves families across a broad area, and often has multiple clients due in a month. While unlikely, it is possible that she could be at another birth and unable to leave in time for your labor/birth. In such cases, the initial deposit will not be refunded. If able, Kailyn will attempt to have a backup doula on call to attend the birth if she is unable to be present. 
• Should a substitute doula be obtained by Kailyn, the substitute doula may have her own contractual terms. 
• If you decide not to employ Kailyn as your doula after signing this contract, the following will apply:
  • Cancellation more than four weeks before your EDD – 100% refund less deposit.
  • Cancellation less than four weeks before your EDD – no refund.
• If complications should arise and/or your birth turns surgical and/or rapid birth occurs the fee is non-refundable.  Refunds cannot be given for unexpected outcomes. Your doula is still available to support you before, during, and after Cesarean birth, depending on hospital policies in operating room. Cesarean birth is still a birth and deserves support.
• If you contact your doula to advise that you are in labor in good time, but your doula does not attend your birth due to an error on their part, you will be refunded the total amount paid less the deposit.
• If you are unable to reach your doula when labor begins, please leave a detailed voice message and text message, if able. Then contact her secondary number, and leave a detailed voice and text message, if able.
• If you fail to call your doula to advise that you are in labor for whatever reason, you will not be due a refund of amounts paid.  If there is a remaining balance outstanding, this will be due. 

Rapid Birth

• In some circumstances labor progresses more quickly than anticipated.  If you feel that birth is imminent or your baby has been born unexpectedly, you agree to first call your care provider or an ambulance to transfer you and your baby to the planned birthing location for evaluation.  Once you have made arrangements for transport, please call your doula and she will meet you.
• If your baby arrives unexpectedly at home with your doula present, you or another support person will be responsible for the delivery of your baby.  After the birth, your doula can help you arrange transport by ambulance to the planned birthing location. Your doula is not responsible for delivering your baby or performing any clinical skills or assessments related to the delivery of your baby.  Your doula is not directly responsible for transport of anyone besides herself.